Machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes



July 11, 1933. w. T. SCARRITT 1,918,137

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING STIFF SPIRAL TUBES Filed May 1, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES WT/guvampf; (an-L g2 fiayw BYWF ATTO RNEYS y 11, 1933- w. T. SCARRITT 1,918,137

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING STIFF SPIRAL TUBES Filed May 1, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet g WITNESSES 'Mg 44' BY ATTORNEY July 11, 1933. w. T. SCARRITT 1,918,137

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING STIFF SPIRAL TUBES I Filed May 1, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WITNESSES W I ,Smrzzff 2% 971M ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINTHROP T. SCARRITT, OF UTICA, NEW YORK Application filed May 1,

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for manufacturing tubes, which may be operated rapidly to manufacture stiff tubes by bending a strip of stock spirally and interlocking the sides of adjacent helixes.

Another object of the invention is to provide rolls for bending the sides of the strip of stock into positions to permit the sides of the strip to readily interlock. Preferably the stock is bent by the rolls with one side bent in one direction and the opposite side bent in an opposite direction, and additional rolls then engage the stock to bend the sides to form acute angles relatively to the body of the stock, the additional rolls also serving to tilt the body of the stock transversely at an angle to the spindle on which the body is to be wound.

Still another object of the invention is to lead the stock to the spindle on which the stock is wound at approximately right angles to the axis of the spindle and at an acute angle relatively to the longitudinally extending outer surface of the spindle, there being means at the spindle for directing the strip of stock spirally around the spindle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a finger for tucking the interlocking edges of the strip of stock into close association and to provide a roll for compressing the said interlocking edges. Preferably means are provided for leading a thread of solder between the interlocking sides of the helixes formed by the stock before they are compressed and there are also means to heat the interlocked sides of the helixes to make, with the solder, a tight joint at the said interlocking sides.

The invention furthermore comprehends means for adjusting the parts of the machine to adapt them to meet varying conditions and different sizes of stock.

Additional objects of the invention will which the preferred form of the invention is described.

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all the views, of which appear in the following specification in 1981. Serial No. 584,407.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machme,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the spindle" and its mountings and showing the spirally-disposed guide,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the rolls for bending the sides of the strip of stock,

Figure 5 is a view on the line 55 of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 4, a

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the finger which serves to tuck the interlocking sides together,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner in which the roll '0 serves to compress the interlocking edges of the helixes, and

Figure 10 is a view illustrating a stiff spiral tube manufactured by the machine.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that a base 11 is mounted on legs 12 and that there are bearings 13 in which a shaft 14 is journaled, there being also bearings 15 and 16 in which a shaft 17 is journaled. There is a sprocket wheel 18 on the shaft 14 and there is a sprocket wheel 19 on the shaft 17, these sprocket wheels 18 and 19 being connected by a sprocket chain 20. There are prefer-' ably two pulleys 21 and 22 on the shaft 14, one of the said pulleys being fixed to the 85 shaft and the other pulley being loose there- The outer end 23 of the shaft 17 is tapered,

as will be seen by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, and mounted on this tapered end 23 of the shaft 17 there is a sleeve or spindle 24, which has an aperture 25 through which a screw 26 is disposed, the screw meshing in a threaded opening 27 in the tapered end 23 of the shaft 17. It will be understood as that with this construction the sleeve or spindle 24 may be readily removed and may be replaced with another spindle of the same or of a different diameter. At the outer side of the bearing 16 there is disposed a collar 28 which is held in place by means of screws 29, which are disposed through openings in the collar 28 and which mesh in threaded openings in the bearing 16. Around this collar 28 there is disposed a guide member 30 which may be readily re-.

placed with a guide member of a different size when a different size or type of sleeve or spindle 24 is used. The guide member 30 has an opening 31 through which the sleeve or spindle 24 is disposed and the guide member 30 is held in place on the collar 28 at the bearing 16 by means of screws 32, which are disposed in openings in the guide 30 and which mesh in threaded openings in the bearing spiral surface 33 which serves to direct a strip of stock spirally around the sleeve or spindle 24.

Standards 34 are secured to the base 11 and secured to these standards 34 there is a frame 35 having bearings 36 and 37, a shaft 38 being journaled in the bearings 36 and a shaft 39 being journaled in the bearings 37. The bearings 37 are in portions 35 of the frame 35 which are detachable from the body of the frame 35 and are held in place by screws 35. This makes it possible to remove the portions 35, of the frame for purposes of adjustment. These shafts 38 and 39 are connected by gearing 40. Secured to the shaft 38 there is a roll 41 having a surface for engaging the middle portion of a strip of stock 42, the roll 41 having at one side an end 43 of greater diameter than the portion .41 of the roll and the roll having at its other side an end 44 which is of less diameter than the portion 41. Secured to the shaft 39there is a roll having a portion 45 for engaging the middle portion of the strip of stock 42, with a portion'46 opposite the portion 43 on the first mentioned roll, the portion 46 being of less diameter than the portion 45, and there being a portion 47 of the other side of the shaft 39 which is of greater diameter than the portion 45 and which is opposite the portion 44 ofthe firstinentioned roll.

It will therefore be seen that, as the strip of stock 42 passes between the two rolls, it will have one side 48 bent in one direction and its other side 49 bent in the opposite direction. The roll mounted on the shaft 38 has a portion 50 on the outer side of the portion 47 on the roll mounted on the shaft39, and the roll mounted on the shaft 39 has a portion 51 at the outer side of the portion 43 of the roll mounted on the shaft 38, the said portions 50 and 51 serving to hold the rolls on the shafts 38 and 39 at all times in posi tion relatively to each other. The roll mounted on the shaft 38 has a collar 52 between its portion 43 and one of its bearings, and there is also a collar 53 on the roll mounted on the shaft 38 which is disposed 16. The said guide member 30 has a r be seen that the lateral mounted on the shaft 38 will be prevented by the'collars 52 and 53, and that the roll mounted on the shaft 39 will be prevented from lateral movement relatively to the roll mounted on the shaft 38 by the portion 50 on the roll mounted on the shaft 38, and the portion 51 mounted on the shaft 39.

The strip of stock 42, after it has been bent, as shown at 48 and 49, passes between the rolls 54 and 55, which are mounted to rotate on vertical axes, that is, at right angles to the axes of the s afts 38 and 39. The roll 54 has at one end an inclined portion 56 for bending the side 49 of the strip of stock at an acute angle relatively to the middle portion of the strip of stock, the other end of the roll 54 having a portion 57 for bending the other side 48 of the strip of stock in an opposite direction and at an acute angle relatively to the middle portion of the strip of stock, the central portion 58 of the roll 54 serving to tilt the middle portion of the strip of stock transversely, as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. he companion roll 55 has surfaces-which assist in' shaping the strip of stock in the manner stated and as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. The rolls 54 and 55 are mounted on vertically extending shafts or spindles 59 which have their outer ends disposed through sleeves 60 and which extend beyond the sleeves 60 and engage the blocks 61, the lower ends of the spindles 59 having shoulders at 62 which engage the upper sides of blocks 63, the shafts or spindles 59 extending through openings in the blocks 63 and having threaded lower ends which are engaged by nuts 64 which serve to clamp the spindles or shafts 59 to the said blocks 63.

One of the blocks 63 is engaged by a screw 65 which meshes in a threaded opening 66 in the frame 35 and with which meshes a nut 67 which presses against the frame 35 for locking purposes. There are also preferably threaded orifices 68 in the top of the frame 35 in which mesh screws 69 for pressing downwardly against blocks 61, which serves to press against the spindles or shafts 59 and to hold the parts in associated position.

As will be seen by referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the strip of stock 42. after it has been bent in theform illustrated in Figure7 of the drawings, and has been disposed as shown in the said figure, is led to the sleeve or spindle 24, one side of the strip of stock engaging the side of the spiral guide 33. as illustrated in Figure 8, and with the strip of stock tilted, so that its side 49 will be disposed in position for interlocking with the side 48 of a helix which has been formed on the sleeve or spindle 24. However, it will.

be understood that the tilting of the strip of stock 42, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, also assists in the spiral movement of the strip of stock around the sleeve or spindle 24. As the side 49 of the strip of stock 42 engages the side 48 of the strip of stock, which has been formed into a helix, a finger serves to tuck the side 49 of the strip of stock into the side 48 of the strip of stock which has been formed into the helix.

The said finger 70 is disposed through a guideway 71 in a member 72 which projects from a block 73 slidably mounted in a guideway 74. The finger 70 is adjustable longitudinally in the said guideway 71 and may be held in the said uideway in adjusted position by the screw 70 which meshes in a threaded orifice in the member 72.

As stated, the block 73 is slidable in a guideway 7 4, the said guideway 74 being pivoted on a vertical pin 75 mounted on the base 11 so that the block 73 may not only be moved inwardly or outwardly relatively to the spindle 24, but may be rotated with reference to the spindle 24 having in mind the width of the stock which is being used and other adjustments. The guideways 74 may be held in adjusted position by any suitable means, such as the screw 74 meshing in a threaded orifice in the guideway 74 and extending through a slot 74 in the base 11, the head of the screw 74 engaging the bottomof the face 11. Journaled in a bearing 76 in the block 73 there is a shaft having a roll 77, the roll 77 being best illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. This roll 77 has side portions 78 for engaging the strip of stock at the sides of the interlocked portions, the periphery of the roll 77 between its side portions being curved transversely at 79 to press the interlocked sides of the strip of stock into close relationship. The shaft on whichthe roll 77 is mounted, has secured thereto a gear 80 which meshes with a gear 81 secured to a shaft 82 on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 83, the sprdcket wheel 83 being connected by asprocket chain 83 with a sprocket wheel 84 secured to a shaft 85 journaled in the frame, the shaft 85 also having secured thereto a sprocket wheel 86 which is connected by a sprocket chain 87 with a sprocket wheel 88 secured to the shaft 14 It will be understood that by this means the roll 77 will be rotated, the sprocket chain 83 having suflicient play relatively to the sprocket wheels 83 and 84 to permit of the adjustment of the guideway 74 and the block 73 as desired. Journaled to the block 73 there is a threaded stud 89 which meshes in a threaded. opening 90 in a locking member 91, the locking member 91 having collars disposed at the outer sides of a bearing 92 secured to the guideways 74, so that when the threaded stud 89 has been moved for adjustment, the locking member '91 may be turned to assist in holding the block 73 in adjusted position.

It will be understood from the above that as the strip of stock 42 is fed to the sleeve or spindle 24, as illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, and as the edge 49 of the strip of stock engages the edge 48 of a helix prevlously formed by the strip of stock, the finger 70 will press the edge 49 against the edge 48,

when the roll 77 will serve to press the said edges before they are engaged by the finger 70, so that the finger not only serves to press the edge 49 of the strip of stock against the edge 48, but it also serves to bring the side 49 against the strip of solder 93, the roll 77 pressing the strip of solder 93 between the interlocking edges 48 and 49, and there being a torch 96 which serves subsequently to heat the interlocking edges 48 and 49 to melt the solder and to make a tight joint. The strip of solder 93 is fed to the side 48 of the strip of stock which has been formed into a helix where it is engaged by the side 49 of the strip of stock which is about to form an adjacent helix, the finger 70 serving to press the said side 49 in the direction of the side 48 with the strips of solder therebetween. The strip of solder 93 is pulled from the reel 94 as the spindle 24 rotates.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for manufacturing stifi' spiral tubes, a spindle, means for bending the sides of a strip of stock, means for feeding the strip of stock to the spindle to form helixes therearound, a finger disposed at the spindle for engaging the outer face of a bent side of the strip of stock for tucking the said bent side into a bent side of a helix for interlocking the said sides, and means for compressing the said bent interlocking sides.

2. In a machine for manufacturing stiif spiral tubes, a spindle, means for bending the sides of a strip of stock, means for feeding the strip of stock to the spindle to form helixes therearound, a finger disposed at the spindle for engaging the outer face of a bent side of the strip of stock for tucking the said bent side into a bent side of a helix for interlocking the said sides, and a roll having its periphery concave transversely for engaging the said interlocking sides for compressing the latter.

3. In a machine for manufacturing stifi' spiral tubes, a spindle, means for bending the sides of a strip of stock, means for feeding a strip of stock to the spindle approximately at right angles to the axis of the spindle and with the strip of stock tilted transversely to the outer surface of the spindle, means at the spindle for directing the strip of stock spirally around the spindle to form helixes, a finger for engaging a bent side of the strip of stock for tucking the said bent side into a bent side of a helix for interlocking the said sides, and a roll having its periphery concave transversely for engaging the said interlocking sides.

4. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spindle, rolls for bending one side of a strip of stock in one direction and the other side of the strip of stock in the opposite direction, additional rolls for rotating on axes at an angle to the axes of the first mentioned rolls for shaping the strip of stock with its body tilted transversely relatively to the axis of the spindle and with its sides bent outwardly at acute angles relatively to the body of the strip, means at the spindle for directing the strip of stock tilted transversely relatively to the axis of the spindle spirally around the spindle to form helixes, and means at the spindle for interlocking the bent sides of the helixes.

5. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, 2. spindle, rolls for bending one side of a strip of stock in one direction and the other side of the strip of stock in the opposite direction, additional rolls for rotating on axes at an angle to the axes of the first mentioned rolls for shaping the strip of stock with its body tilted transversely relatively to the axis of the spindle and With its sides bent outwardly at acute angles relatively to the body of the strip, means at the spindle for directing the strip of stock spirally around the spindle to form helixes with the bent sides positioned for interlocking, and a finger for tucking a bent side of the stock into the bent side of a helix formed on the spindle.

6. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes,a spindle, means forinterlocking sides of a strip of stock wound spirally on the spindle, a pivoted guideway, a block movable in the guideway and having a bearing, and a roll having a shaft rotatable in the bearing for pressing against the interlocked sides of the strip of stock wound spirally on the spindle.

7. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spindle, a pivoted guideway, a block movable in the guideway and having a bearing, a roll having a shaft rotatable in the bearing for pressing against two sides of a strip of stock wound spirally on the spindle, and a finger carried by the block for tucking one of the sides into the other side prior to the action of the roll on the said sides.

8. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spindle, means for interlocking sides of a strip bf stock wound spirally on the spindle, a pivoted guideway, a block movable in the guideway and having a bearing, a roll having a shaft rotatable in the bearing, the roll having a periphery concave transversely for pressing against the interlocked sides of the strip of stock wound spirally on the spindle.

9. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spirally disposedguide, a shaft disposed for rotating within the splrally disposed guide, and means at the shaft for pressing together laterally edges of a strip of stock which has been directed splrally around the shaft by the said guide to interlock the said edges.

10. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spirally disposed guide, a shaft disposed for rotating within the spirally disposed guide, means at the shaft for pressing together edges of the strip of stock which has been directed spirally around the shaft by the said guide, and a finger disposed in advance of the said means for engaging one edge to tuck the said edge into the other edge to assist in interlocking the said edges...

11. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spirally disposed guide, a shaft disposed for rotating within the spirally disposed guide, a finger for engaging a bent edge of a strip of. stock for tucking the said edge into another edge of the said strip of stock for interlocking the said edges, and a roll for engaging the interlocked edges for pressing them together.

12. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spindle, rolls for bending, one side of a strip of stock in one direction and the other side, of the strip of stock in the other direction. additional rolls for rotating on axes at an angle to the axes of the first mentioned rolls for shaping the strip of stock with its body tilted transversely relatively to the axis of the spindle and with its sides bent outwardly at acute angles relatively to the body of the strip and a finger for tucking a bent side of the stock into the bent side of a helix formed by thestock on the spindle.

13. In a machine for manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spindle, means for bending the sides of a strip of stock, means for feeding the strip of stock to the spindle to form helixes therearound, and a finger disposed adjacent a formed helix positioned for engaging the outer face of a bent side of the strip of stockfor tucking the said bent side into a bent side of the said helix forinterlocking the said sides.

14. In a machinef or manufacturing stiff spiral tubes, a spindle, means for bending the sides of a strip of'stock, means for feeding the strip of stock to the spindle to form helixes therearound, anda finger extending longitudinally of the spindle for en aging a; bent side of the strip of stock for tuc g the I said bent side into a bent side of a helix for interlocking the said sides.

15. Ina machine for manufacturing stifl spiral tubes, a spindle, means for bending the sides of a strip of stock, means for feed- 1o ing the strip of stock to the spindle approximately at right angles to the axis of thespine, means at the s strip of stock spiral y around the spindle to form helixes, a finger at the spindle spaced from the third mentioned means and normal- 1y disposed beyond a bent side of the strip of a stock disposed between the third mentioned means and the finger, the finger engaging the outer face of the said side of the strip of indle for directing the' stock to press the said side in the direction of the third mentioned means to tuck the said bent side into a side of a helix for interlocking the said sides, and a roll having its eriphery concave transversely for engaging the said interlocking sides. 7

'16. In a machine for manufacturing stifi' spiral tubes, a spindle, a guide disposed at the spindle and having a cam face extending from the spindle, means for directing a strip of stock approximately at right angles to. the axis of the spindle and tilted, transversely to the longitudinally extending outer surface of the spindle, with one side of the strip disposed in close proximity to the outer surface of the spindle and with the other side of the strip spaced from the spindle and disposed against the cam face.

WINTHROP T. SCARRITT. 

